Kochi: Kunnathunad MLA PV Sreenijin was questioned by the investigation unit of the Income Tax (IT) department in connection with his financial transactions in the film industry. The MLA was summoned for questioning at the Kochi office on Tuesday around 3 PM. The interrogation lasted for over four hours. 

Later, Sreenjin revealed to 'Mathrubhumi News' that he had received a loan of Rs 65 lakh from a film producer, which he duly returned. The move to interrogate Sreenijin came in the wake of a series of raids conducted at the houses of film producers and actors in the state. 

Meanwhile, Sreenijin dismissed reports that he was summoned for questioning in relation to allegations that he had paid Rs 1.5 crores to a filmmaker. He added that he appeared before the investigation team as a part of an assessment. 

“I borrowed Rs 65 lakh from a film producer in 2015 after encountering income tax issues. I returned the amount in 2022, and no other transactions occurred afterwards. This has been recorded in the election documents,” Sreenijin said. 

Earlier in December, the IT department had conducted raids at the houses of prominent actors and producers. Most of them paid their taxes after discrepancies were found in their transactions. It was the transactions and statements of a film producer that prompted the department to initiate a probe into Sreenijin’s transactions. 

On examination of the transaction documents, the IT department found that Sreenijin paid Rs 1.5 crores to the filmmaker and received over Rs 3.5 crore in return as interest.